GSA Blog

When Women Succeed, We All Succeed

Today, I had the honor of joining Senior Advisor to President Obama Valerie Jarrett, Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez to announce that in fiscal year 2015 the federal government met the 5 percent women-owned small business statutory goal for the first time in history.

From day one, President Obama has recognized the vital role that women-owned small businesses play in our economic prosperity. That is why in 2011, the administration announced the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program to provide women-owned small businesses greater access to federal contracting opportunities. The program also set a goal that 5 percent of federal contracting dollars would be awarded to women-owned small businesses.

Here at GSA, 9.3 percent of our federal contracts worth approximately $350 million were awarded to women-owned small businesses in fiscal year 2015 — surpassing the federal 5 percent goal. This accomplishment is in large part due to the work of GSA’s Office of Small Business Utilization.

Across the country we host events to teach women about contracting opportunities with GSA. We redesigned our website to make it easier for small vendors to find answers to questions about doing business with the government. We also launched the Small Business First Campaign which makes GSA’s achievement of small business goals a top priority. We also support GSA’s initiative to make it easier for suppliers to work with the federal government by improving processes, removing barriers, and leveraging technology.

I am proud of GSA’s accomplishments in making federal contracts available to women-owned small businesses. These contracts will help women take their small business to the next level and create the jobs America needs. That’s good news for women-owned businesses, that’s good news for GSA, and that’s good news for our economy.